My father who is 98, knew Bill Sukalle many years ago when Sukalle was a barrel maker in Phoenix, I think there’s still a Sukalle rifle somewhere around here marked “22 Varmint,” which I believe is an early 22-250. In the 1963 Gun Digest, there’s an article on Bill Sukalle and his barrel making company in Phoenix.

I spent a half day with him in is shop in Phoenix circa 1964. He essentially gave me several of his handguns and rifles ("sold" them to me at well under what we both knew was market value). They include a Peterson .22 on Ballard action, a Rem Rollingblock with Stevens Pope barrel, and a Tompkins. I foolishly did not take his Enfield .375 H& H - offered at the same price as the others - $75 each!

He told me about Dr Smith, then in Alaska, who hired Mr Sukalle to come up each summer to clean his several hundred rifles, and do a bit of hunting. He said it was the high light of his year.

He was Arizona pistol champion many year. His barrels were as good as anything being made in that period, and I have since that visit bought a number of rifles with his barrels.

There was a write up about Sukalle in Gun Digest way back when. If interested I'll dig out my copy so I can tell you what year to look for. I have a model 12 BSA with one of his barrels. Shoots very nicely too. Rich

This is an A O Zischang .25-35 WCF, not improved like your Sukalle. Michael Petrov has been working up loads for an A O Niedner Borchardt in .25 Krag; I'm amazed at the accuracy he has obtained. I suspect your improved .25-35 might have similar ballistics to his rifle, and the cartridge is certainly capable of taking deer or antelope sized animals, not just varmints.

Absolutely gorgeous rifle.My Sukalle is more of a plain hunting rifle, but I have made first shot hit and kills past 400 yards on some of our tough Bull Rockchucks here in SW Idaho the past few years.I am really at odds with myself over having John King put DSTs in it. His are Zischang-style.